Sewer battle rages at Walnut Creek

There was one thing the multitude of Walnut Creek residents and Village Council members could agree on Wednesday night at the public hearing concerning the village's sewer expansion: The council should do "the right thing."

What's emerged as the dividing issue is determining what the "right thing" is.

Nearly 140 residents turned out for the municipality's public hearing, which was held at the Walnut Creek Country Club to accommodate the crowd, two dozen of whom addressed the Village Council, which is set to vote on the issue March 27.

Fliers declaring "No Village-wide sewer" were passed out among the crowd, which applauded loudly any speakers who questioned the expansion, beginning with lawyer Glenn Barfield, who argued that the authority of the municipality to extend its sewer system might go against the state's constitution.

Barfield said that the $8,500 in assessment fees should be considered taxes, making them subject to the Local Government Bond Act.

Michelle Blackwell then took the podium and presented the results of a petition, saying that 90 percent of those who responded to the village-wide survey were opposed to the expansion.

"It is your job to listen to your constituents," she told the council.

Mayor Darrell Horne permitted those speaking for a handful of people up to 10 minutes to address the council, although some who spoke stood at the podium only long enough to make the council members aware of their opposition.

Many decried the current sewer system while arguing that septic tanks weren't inferior and that there had been no proof that well-maintained septic tanks posed any environmental risk.

Village staff said the threat of sewage runoff into the village's lake was greater with septic tanks.